-- stretched Fairey Barracuda across Tier V and VI in like manner based on original cancelled engine development (Rolls-Royce Exe).

-- grayed-out tech tree lines that do not exist in-game so that they can still be used as a quick visual for possible future lines. Blackburn Skua to Hawker Hurricane is not necessarily a permanent solution, given the Gladiator, and the turret fighters Roc and Defiant.

The German bombers could set a groundwork that might just possibly make the Defiant and similar planes (turret only plane) work...

WoWP makes a great jousting game...especially with the 262 and people busy in furballs...
I am deaf, silent, and fly with unrealistic controls. Do not count on me to carry - my back's already broken from overweight.

-- added first flight, production first flight, and introduction dates for Spitfire variants; these can be used horizontally across the tree against aircraft proposed at each tier. This is just another way to identify/verify tiers with historical accuracy. In the past, first flight dates were used almost exclusively for this project (then also specifications), and in some cases these do not prove valuable for comparison. The Spitfire prototype flew 2 years and 5 months before it was actually introduced, for example.

MULTIROLE FIGHTERS

​-- Another example, the Westland Wyvern was previously considered to be a Tier VIII, the tier commonly considered to be the apex for piston engines; yet its first flight date (12/1946) and introduction date (05/1953) span almost 7 years (!), and the developments leading up to it (Firecrest, Spearfish, and Hawker designs, among others), suggest that it could very well be Tier IX, after jet engines are already established (as it happened).

-- rigid adherence to a full II-X Hawker line (BLUE) may come at the expense of the two 'FAA' lines (LIGHT BLUE + ORANGE). The reality is that Hawker contributed to both RAF and FAA, if that distinction is to be made (YELLOW). Sea Fury and Sea Hawk are production examples, but many prototypes/projects submitted. Further investigation is needed.

-- aircraft revealed after Hawker Tornado will help to solve the Vampire/Meteor and RAF/FAA mysteries.

-- Vampire/Venom/Sea Vixen dates incoming (next post).

-- Westland W.36 was a single-engine Avon naval strike fighter developed to N.12/45, designed 1946-1947; could be a reasonable post-Wyvern placeholder for now.

BOMBERS

-- divided bombers (BROWN) into MEDIUM and HEAVY; further refinement needed after all engine tiers identified.

__/__/1954 -- Venom FB.1 early 1954 much-modified, with ejection seats, operated as high-altitude interceptor, "great success against Canberra"; "more than a match for the F-86 Sabre at high altitude." (Harrison, 7)

Q: When will we see branches containing planes from Hawker or Grumman?

The Hawker branch will make its first appearance before the winter holidays and will include the legendary Hurricane. The second part of the branch, including the almighty Tempest, will come in later updates. The lineup is going to be quite interesting.

But also because the Mozzie on the right has plan, cross section & front views, on the left we have plan & cross-section of a Spitfire -> probably the front view is also Spitfire, 5 bladed prop is on Spit XIV.

Q. Are there any plans to add the US naval bombers or a GA line for the US and/or UK?

A. Not for 2018. There are plans for the USA B-series bombers.

Q. What are the rough plans for 2018? Could we see more lines than just the new British MRF or German medium bombers, or even new nations?

A. There will be lots of new airplanes in 2018 for almost all classes and for the UK, Germany, the USA, the USSR and Japan. In addition, we even have plans for one for France and one for another European nation, but those are still under discussion.

Q. Any chance of making the Javelin more in line with other UK heavy fighters? Starting from the Beaufighter, the whole line is armed with bombs and rockets aside from the Tier X Javelin, which gets nothing at all.

A. Yes, the Javelin will get a pair of powerful bombs. We also have plans to add bombs to the P.228.

Q. Is the 10 euro British bomber likely to come back on sale? Someone on here said bombers will be gold soon.

A. We are going to have a lot of branch bombers as well as Premium and special planes. The Blenheim Mk.IV (early) is already available for purchase in the game client using gold, as well as 2 other bombers (the RB-17 and A-26B). As for discounts – keep track of specials on the Portal, they are frequent and you may see the bombers there someday.

Hey Jelly, sorry to pick nits with your tech trees here, but in looking at your Hawker line, are the Gloster fighters at tiers 2 and 3 sensible for an MR line? As far as I am aware, they never carried a bomb load of any kind. Don't get me wrong, both aircraft are extremely significant and I want them in game (especially the Gladiator!) but I'm wondering if that was the reason why they skewed them off of the main LF line rather than starting it at tier 2 sadly.

Hey Jelly, sorry to pick nits with your tech trees here, but in looking at your Hawker line, are the Gloster fighters at tiers 2 and 3 sensible for an MR line? As far as I am aware, they never carried a bomb load of any kind. Don't get me wrong, both aircraft are extremely significant and I want them in game (especially the Gladiator!) but I'm wondering if that was the reason why they skewed them off of the main LF line rather than starting it at tier 2 sadly.

No problem. I appreciate the dialogue. That is how these thing improve. The important thing is to have a rational thought process that can be shared, and being open to seeing things in a new way.

I will be brief because time is limited (may edit later):

-- Gauntlet developed to same spec as Bulldog, but had heavier armament (4 guns vs Bulldog's 2)

-- Gladiator successor to Gauntlet (also 4 guns)

-- Gloster overtaken by Hawker

Is it necessary for them to have bombs, given that "multirole" aircraft in this game tend to have bombs, or could having heavier armament suffice? I don't know.

Could they be given bombs like the Goldfinch and Type 91 (Japan), which also did not have bombs? Perhaps yes.

Could they be omitted from Hurricane progression (as they have been) and be used instead as premiums? Perhaps yes.

The good news is that, based on the transparency achieved thus far -- these are the kinds of questions that remain. I don't have answers for all of them.